Visible index



July 5,.1932 LE Rol' EA Hu'rcHlNGs VISIBLE INDEX Filed Sept. l, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 July 5, 1932- LE Rol E. HUTcHlNGs VISIBLE INDEX Filedsept. 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a4. A ffazzz Patented July 5, 1932 NiroSTATES TNT OFFICE LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSGNOR TOREMINGTON RAND INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK VISIBLE INDEX Application ledSeptember 1, 1927. Serial No. 215,896.

This invention relates to improvements in visible index equipment andparticularly toa card and signal mounting. Y This invention is designedto provide a s card holder which will engage and retain a card againstmovement therein and which is adapted for'detachable cooperation with asuitable supporting element in such a manner that the card will bereadilyy removable if: from the supporting element and at the same timewill be effectivelyn secured thereto in attached relation to preventaccidental disengagement. An object of the invention is to provide i avisible index in which cards or sheets of relatively cheap light-weightmaterial may have card holders readily applied thereto so that thesheets may be detachably Vconnected to suitable supporting elementsmounted init spaced relation so that the lower edges of the cards whenlying one upon the other will be relatively offset.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a card or signalholder having if a card or signal receiving portion and asupport-engaging portion, and also cooperating means to retain a cardand support engaged therewith, and which may be readily detached fromthe support or card.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card holder of simpleconstruction which is cheap to manufacture and which may be readilyapplied to a bar or other support through the coopera-tion of suitableresilient portions of the holder, formed during its construction.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a. holder which `willsuitably space the inner edges of the cards from the support- 4.@ ingelements so that the cards may be freely rotated about the supportingelements on a plurality of card holders which are adapted to besimultaneously engaged o-r dise-imaged from the supporting elements. A 1

The invention further comprehends the provision of visible indexequipment utilizing these novel card holders with suitable supportingelements which are adapted to permit lateral shifting of the cards toofi'- 50 set certainV cards with respect to others in an index panel,and with which a signal` may be interchangeably associated so as toutilize one of the supporting elements for the cards. In this connectionthe invention includes a new combination in providing for the mountingof the signal on the supporting element `in detachable relation,independently of the detachable mounting for the index cards.

holding structure of extra sheets adapted to be associated with eachcard for mounting in the front and rear thereof which are` retained inposition by the special cooperation between the card, the sheets and thecard holders.

The invention comprehends numerous other objects residing in thecombination of parts, and the specific construction and association ofthese parts which are more particularly pointed out in the followingdetailed description directed to the preferred forms of the invention,it also being understood, that various other changes in the relation,construction, and association of the parts may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application, y

Fig. l is an elevation illustrating a group of cards mounted on suitablesupporting elements carried by a panel showing the relation of thepartsA when assembled and also illustrating how one or more cards may beoffset with respect to the others in accordance with the provisions ofthis invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and v5 are perspectives illustrating several forms of cardholders.

F ig. 6 isa sectional view through the inner edge of a card showing acard holder similar to that of Fig. 2 applied to the card in accordancewith this invention, and further illustrating how a sheet is retained inassembled relation on the upper face of a card by the holder.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a double sheet appliedto the card having a strip portion retained against the front face ofthe card by the card holder and having portions hinged to the oppositeedges ot the strip portion and lying in front and in bach of the cardrespectively.

Fig. 8 illustrates the application of a card holder as shown in Fig. toa card and a supporting bar or element, the Darts being shown intransverse section and substantially enlarged.

Fig. 9 is a perspective illustrating the double sheet structure shown inFig. 7 with the front and back leaf portions separated to illustrate thedetails ot construction.

Fig. is a perspective illustrating the double sheet structure applied toa card the sameV as in Fig. 7 with the card holders applied forretaining the central strip portion of the sheet in position on thecard.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate spacing bar constructions carrying thesupporting elements for the card holders, each showing ditferent typesof construction adapted for obtaining special advantages in the use ofthe card holders.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional View through one of these-supportingbars or elements illustrating a card holder as shown in Fig. 2 appliedthereto, the card holder having a card connected thereto, and having theresilient retaining tongue on kthe upper side of the card in its normalposition in a panel.

Fig. is a. view similar to Fig. 14 showing the card holder in a reversedposition with the retaining tongue on the underside of the card in itsnormal position in a panel.

Fig. 1G illustrates how a signal may be interchangeably applied to thesupporting elements for cooperation with a card carried thereby.`

A panel or the like is indicated at 1 which may be of any desired formas used in connection with visible index equipment well lrnown intheart, and is provided with guide channels 2 at the opposite sides.Supporting and spacing bars 3 are applied transversely of the panel 1and have the end portions extending into the channels 2 by which theyare secured in the panel as shown in Fig. 1 in adjacent contactingrelation.

These supporting` bars 3 may be constructed as shown in Figs. 11, 12 or13, of inverted U-shaped form as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and ofsubstantially tubular form as shown in Fig. 13. In Fig. 11, showing on-eend portion of one supporting bar, a pair ot' ofi'set portions 4 areprovided adjacent the ends of the bar while a supporting element in theform of a'wire or rod 5 extends over these eti'- set portions 4 and hasIthe end portions seposite one of these odset portions. Stops 6 arestruck out of the body of bar 3 at the ends of the olifset portions toengage the card holders and align the cards in a panel.

The bar 3 as illustrated in Fig. 12 is constructed similar to that shownin Fig. 11 having the pairs of odset portions 4 adjacent the oppositeends thereof over which entend the supporting elements 5. In thisconstruction the supporting elements are anchored to the bar in aslightly diil'erent manner from that shown in Fig. 11, both at the endsand in the raised central portion 7. The bar is secured through thebinding action of the upwardly struck strip portions S extending overVthe elements and rigidly binding the ends against the ysurface of thebar. Between these offset portions- 4', the central portion of the baris oilset in a similar manner as illustrated at 9 in Fig. 12. Thecentral part of this offset portion 9 is round or beaded lengthwise asindicated at 10 in order that the inner edges of the cards when appliedin the panel will not catch on the edges of the bar in lieXing duringthe movement of the cards around thesupporting elements. The centralportion of the bar as shown in Fig. 11 is formed similar to the centralportion 9. This oisetting of portions of the bars 3 and 3 as shown inFigs. 11 and12 prevides for a"saving in material'and at the same timeplaces the ends or" the bars at the proper height above the bottoms orbaclrs of the panels to engage the upper faces of the guide channels 2.The bars are thereby retained against movement laterally in the panel.

In Fig. 13 the bar 3 is of tubular formation as above mentioned andinstead of having the offset portions, it is provided with cut-outsections 11 at the end portions and which may also be provided at thecentral portion as illustrated to obtain the proper clearance space forthe reception and operation of the card holders. T he supportingelem-ents for the card holders are indicated at 12 and have theiropposite ends extending underV the strips 13 which secure them rigidlyon the upper fac-e of the bar. Suitable shoulders 14 may be proviced byslightly depressing the upper surface of the bar which receives the endsof the supporting elements in order to prevent endwise movement on thebar.

A card holder for associati-on with the support-ing elements isindicated at 15 in Fig. 2 which is formed of a thin strip of materialfolded in its central portion as indicated at 16, one end portion ofwhich is wider as indicat-ed at 17 than the opposite end portion 1S. Theportion 17 is substantially throughout its length to provide acardengaging portion which is provided at the free end with thelaterally extending flange 19 bifurcated as indicated at 2O and havingtheterminals of the bifurcated portion formed into a substantially,U-shaped or semi-circular portion 21 `extending from flange 19 andadapted to receive the supporting element on the Spacing bars 3. Theportion 18 of the card holder is tapered toward itsfree end asillustrated in Fig. 2 which extends beyond theends ofthe Ybifurcatedvportion 2O and beyond the supporting element receiving portions 21. Theterminal of portiony 18 is offset slightly as indicated at 22 to providea support-engaging lip adapted to aid in the ready application of theholder to the supporting element. rIhe portion 18 is normally held byits own resiliency in substantial contact with the portion 17 so as toclamp the upper edge portion of a card in the card-holding portion ofthe I holder and also to hold thesupporting element receiving portion 21in engagement with a supporting element. The holder is applied to a card23 as illustrated in Fig. 14, by insertion of tongue 18 through the slot24 formed in spaced parallel relation to the inner edge of the card sothat the edge portion of the card is seated in the portion 17. A pair ofthese card holders are usually applied to a card as illustrated in Fig.1 adjacent'the opposite end portions.

These card holders are applied with the card to the suppo-rting elementsas shown' in Fig. 14 with the element-engaging portions 21 on the underside of the supporting elements while the tongues 18 are on the upperside thereof. To apply these holders in this position to the supportingelements they are graspedbetween the fingers placed at opposite ends ofthe card 23 and the offset portions 22 are moved into engagement withthe supporting elements. Then, by depressing or Vpressing downwardly onthe cardholders simultaneously the tongues 18 will be flexed to permitmovement of the-element-receiving portions 21 and the portion 17 awayfrom the portion 18 as a result of which the elementreceiving portions21 may be passed around and below the supporting elements and the cardholders moved into the engaged position. When it is desired to removethe card and the holders from the supporting element thisvmay be done byrotating the card holders to van inclined position about the supportingelements and then through grasping the card and the cardholdersadjacentA to the portion 16 and pressing downwardly the tongues 18 willbe flexed again to permit the movement 3 of the portions 21 away fromthe supporting elements, as al result of which the holders may bereadily and simultaneously detached.

`When these holders are in the attached position the tongues 18cooperate with the support-engaging portions 21 in such a. manner thatby exerting a pull lengthwise or `in the pla-ne of the card 23, the cardholders will i not become detached from the supporting ing elements.

rlhe card holders may be applied in the n opposite position as shown inFig. 15 with the tongues on the upper side of the support- In thisrelation which may be preferred, pressure is exerted laterally to theplane of the card, and upwardly to flex the tongues 18 duringapplication or removal of the card holders from the supporting elements.v p

In Fig. 3 the; card holder is of slightly different form from thatillustrated in Fig. 2, being formed of a strip of uniform width bentintermediate its ends at 25 `to provide at one side1of the bend or foldthe card-receiving portion 26 and the support-engaging portion 27 whilethe strip at'the Vopposite side of the fold 25v is'substantiallystraight as indicated at 28 and extends beyond the portion 27 to providethe operating lip 29 by which the portion28 may be flexed away from theportions 26 and 27 in applying the holder to a card and to a supportingelement.

In Fig. 4 the card holder is similar to the construction shown in Fig. 3and in addition, is provided with the projecting portion 30 between thecard-receiving portion 31 and thesupporting element receiving section 32`to form a stop for preventing the card from riding upwardly in the cardholder and preventing the cardfrom interfering` with efficientcooperation of the holder and supporting element. v

A wire clip is illustrated in Fig. 5 formed of a suitable length of wirehaving a central portion 33-from which the ends extend laterally inycurved relation as shown at 34 andA terminate in the offset portions 35vparallel with the portion 33. At the ends of the portions 35 whichextend outwardly in opposite directions from the portions 34 the wire isformed into the curved sections 36 which are in alignment with thecurved port-ions 34 and cooperate therewith to provide for the receptionof a supporting element. The ends are then extended asrindicated at 37and converged toward each other, these ends 37 extending substantiallyatright angles to the portions 33 and 35 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.rIhe ends of the wire are then formed with the return bends 38 so thatthe terminals lie in substantially parallel relationV as indicated at 39and engage the portions 35 a-d- 'acent the free ends. W ith this wireclip it will be noted that the portions 37 formfthe card-receivingportion similar to the previously described forms of the card holder,while the portions 34 and 36 form the supporting element receivingportion. The central portion 33 is formed to li'eY between the ends 39so as to prevent the inner edge of a card 23 from riding upwardly'against the supporting element.` This relation of theV ics iis

lao

parts is illustrated in Fig. 8 showing hoWjtlie Wire clipin Fig. 5 isapplied to a card and a supporting element. rlhe free ends of theportions 39 extend beyond the portions 85 and provide supporting elementengaging lips by Which the portions 39 may be flexed away from theportions to permit. application and removal of the Wire clip fromengagement With a card and a supporting element, in the manner abovedescribed.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, there is illustrated in addition tothe card 23, a sheet which has a strip portion 11 adjacentfthe inneredge of the card in coincident relation with the card and connected tothe remaining portion of the sheet a hinged portion at l2 formed byperforations or otherwise with openings for registry with the slots 24.-in the card to receive the card holders 15. lVhen the card holders areapplied to the assembled card and sheet the strip portion is held incontact with the sheet as shown in l?" 6 While the remaining portion ofthe sheet may be flexed upwardly for inde-ing use. This provides aconstruction in which one or more sheets may be superposed on the cardand provide additional record space in which the sheets are usuallyshorter than the card so as not to interfere with the exposed edges ofthe card and in which tie card holc er retains the sheets and card inthe proper assembled relation.

Vith'particular reference to Figs. 7, 9 and 10, a folded sheet isillustrated i3 having a central strip portion 1.4: to which theremaining portions of the sheet are hinged and 46 respectively. rlhehinge is at the folded edge of the sheet as illustrated in Figs. 7 and10 which is applied over the inner edge of the card. rlhe strip portionis engaged against the front face of the card and held in intimaterelation therewith by the card holders 15 While the portion of ie sheetoverlying the front face of the card may be flexed u Wardl alone' thenin'e l5 in the t? J g2 saine manner as with tne sheet snovvn in Fie'.6. The back section of the sheet 41-3 adjacent to the hinge 46 isprovided with elongated openings 47 for the card holders. 1il-.Tith thisconstruction, and When the card 23 is lifted, the card holder willrotate about tl e supporting elements While the opening v-.f'ili permitthe flexing of the. bach section of the sheet along the hinge 4G so thataccess be obtained to ree rds used on this sheet. ln this constructionthe card holders again ceoperate With the card and the sheet toeffectively7 retain the central strip section en- Ga-Oed with the inneredge of the card. o c a Vith the use of bar constructions as shown inFigs. 11 and 12 in an assembled 'ndez structure as shown in Fig. 1 thecard holders 15 'may be applied so that the .irds may he .l secured tothe bars in either of tivo positions,

providing for lateral offsetting of one or more cards with respect tothe others' te obtain advantages in filing systems used for accountingrecords. TVith the construction shown in Fig. 11 the offsetting may beIobtained by sliding the holders along the supporting elements in onedirection or the other across the central portion 6. Vllhis Will cause afiez-:ing of the supporting elements relative to the portions S whichWill act as a latch or stop to normally prevent the sliding of the cardfrom one position to the other. Vith the construction shown in Fig. 12the offsetting is obtained by detaching Jthe holders from the supportingelements and shifting and applying them to the elements in the otherposition. rllie arrangement of the cards as shown in Fig. 1 illustratesboth positions in Weich the cards may be applied to the supportingelements in obtaining this offsetting feature.

il further advantage of this offsetting feature is illustrated in Fig.16 in which a signal is used which is indicated at i8 having a slot @-9at the inner end receiving one of the card holders 15. The signal maybedetachahlyfand interchangeably applied to the supporting clementstructure as shown in Fig. 1 for signalling cooperation With the cardsecured on the saine element. This provides independent mounting for thesignal and the card so that they may both be readily applied and removedfrom the supporting elements.

. `l/Vhere cards of unusual Width are used and in order to facilitatethe use of light-Weight cards or paper the structure as shouv in Fig. 13may be employed With card holders applied in the central portion toprovide an additional support. Any number of holders may be employed incarrying out this feature in accordance with 'the size of card used. The offsetting feature obtained by the construction as shown in 11 and 12may be coinbined with this supporting connection as shown in F ig. i3through using pairs of supporting element-s in the intermediate sectionof the har as Well as the end sections. The construction shown in Fig.13 may also be employed for mounting signals.

What is claimed is:

1. A card holder, comprising a strip meinber formed to provide acard-engaging portion, a support-embracing portion, and another lportionfor cooperating with the aforementioned portions to hold the card andfor retaining said support-embracing portion in engaged relation With asupport to prevent detachment under longitudinal pull, and operable topermit engagement and detachment thereof from the support under lateralpressure. i'

2. A card holder7 comprising a card-engaging portion, and asupport-engaging portion and having a substantially straight retainingtongue adapted to permit a card to be readilyy inserted upon saidcard-engaging portion, and to retain said card thereon and thesupport-engaging portion on a suitable support.

3. In combination, a supporting member, an index card, a card holderassociatedvwith said index card, and an element mounted on saidsupporting member detachably receiving said card holder, said supportingmember being offset laterally adjacent said element l to accommodatesaid holder.

4. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, a card holderdetachably mounting said index card on said element, a signal, and aclip independently mounting said signal on said supporting element insuperimposed relation on said card for signalling cooperation therewith.

5. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, a card holderassociated With said card and detachably engaging said supportingelement in either of a plurality of positions, and a signal havingmeansfor engaging said supporting element in either of said plurality ofpositions interchangeably with said card holder.

6. In combination, a supportingelement, an index card, a sheet havingone edge coincident With said card, and a card holder engaging said cardand sheet and retaining said coincident edge on the sheet engaged Withsaid card, sai-d card holder detachably securing said card and sheet onsaid supporting element.

7. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, a sheet having astrip portion along one edge coincident With one edge of the card, acard holder engaging and retaining said strip portion, and the card inadjacent relation, said card holder detach ably mounting said card andsheet on said supporting element, and a hinge portion connecting saidstrip portion to the remainder of the sheet.

8. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, asheet having astrip portion with one edge coincident With one edge of the card, a cardholder engaging and .retaining j the card and strip portion in adjacentrelalms tion, .said card holder detachably mounting said card and sheeton said supporting element, and a hinge portion at opposite edges ofsaid strip portion connecting the remaining portions of the sheetthereto.

9. A card holder, comprising a folded strip Y adapted to be passedthrough an opening in the card end to embrace the opposite faces of amarginal portion of said card, the ends of the strip adapted to projectbeyondthe edge of said card and being formed for coaction in opposedrelation to detachably embrace a support. Y

10. In combination, a supporting member, a record card having slotsformed adjacent a margin thereof, and card holders formed card holderembracing a marginal portion of said card and having the freeends of thestrip projecting beyond the edge of the card and formed forcomplementary embracing cooperation With the supporting member todetachably hinge said record card thereon.

' l1; A card holder, comprising a member formed With a card-holdingportion and a support-embracing portion, said card-holding portionVhaving auxiliary means for releasably retaining said support-embracingportion in engagement with a support.

12. A card holder, comprising a. member formed with a card-holdingportion and a support-embracing portion,saidcardholding portion havingan extension for normally holding said support-embracing portion inengagement With a support, said extension beinglaterally movable fromsaid supportengaging portion to engage and disengage saidsupport-embracing portion With a support. Y

185A card holder, comprising a supportembracing portion, a card-engagingportion including resilient means having an exten-V sion opposed to saidsupport-embracing portion and normally cooperating therewith to retainsaid support-embracing portion engaged With a support, saidsupport-embracing portion also cooperating With said resili- -ent meansof said card-embracing portion to prevent detachment of a cardtherefrom.

14. A card holder comprising a folded strip, one extremity of one foldof said strip being formed With a support-engaging portion, theremainder of the strip forming a card-holding portion y With the otherfold adapted to resiliently engage a card therein and also extending toreleasably retain said support-engaging portion in engagement With asupport. o

LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS.

of folded strips engaged in said slots, each, s

